Overview Of The Lucas Terrier - The Dog World's Best Kept Secret

History
The Lucas Terrier is a rare British breed. There are three stories as to how it was created. You, the reader, get to choose which one you believe!

The official version of the breed, dictated and published by Sir Jocelyn Lucas himself, is that in the late 1940’s, Sir Jocelyn Morton Lucas of Great Britain, feeling that the Sealyham Terrier was too big to work efficiently and concerned about the increase in whelping deaths at his kennels, crossed his petite Ilmer working Sealyham Terrier bitches with carefully chosen Norfolk Terrier males, creating the Lucas Terrier.

Version two comes to us from one of Sir Jocelyn's kennel managers who swore that the first Lucas Terrier was not a planned, well thought-out strategic mating as Sir Jocelyn recalls, but the result of an unplanned mating between a randy Norfolk who was boarded at the famous kennel and a love sick Sealyham bitch who, in heat, fell for the randy Norfolk's persistent advances. Rather than face the embarrassment and possible risk to his kennel's reputation, Sir Jocelyn quickly created the above 'cover' story. And the 'accident' turned out to be a profitable niche for him. Lemons were turned thus into profitable, face-saving lemonade.

The third version comes from a book that Sir Jocelyn wrote himself in 1931 titled 'Hunt and Working Terriers'. Starting on page 75 of Tideline edition, Sir Jocelyn introduces the world to a new breed of dog that he refers to as "The Shelburne Terrier"  that he credits as being created by a man identified as J. Watson Webb of Shelburne Vermont in the USA, who crossed Sealyham bitches with Norfolk males creating a dog that Sir Jocelyn thought very highly of.  "Above all" he writes the dog is  "wonderfully kind to children" a quality he frequently sited as being true of the Lucas Terrier.

Now it is very possible that after serving in two world wars, Sir Jocelyn suffered from short term memory loss and that when he created the Lucas, he forgot that it had already been created by J. Watson Webb of the USA.

It is also possible that his description of the Shelburne Terrier was inaccurate in his book and the dog was not across between a Sealyham and a Norfolk at all, but between some other types of terriers, that simply got missed in proofreading before the book went to press.

You, the reader, gets to decide for yourself which is the most plausible beginning to our delightful little breed that no one can argue, Sir Jocelyn ran with and made his own.

Appearance
A small, sweet, non-exaggerated sporting terrier, similar to the classic Sealyhams Terriers of the 1920’s.

Size
Females: 11-17lbs, 9-11 inches
Males: 14-20lbs, 10-12 inches

Average Life Expectancy
14 –15 years

Health Problems
In general, the Lucas Terrier is a hearty, healthy, long-lived breed. The and disc and lionjaw problems experienced in the UK have not been experienced in the USA. Obesity has the biggest challenge in the US. Overfeeding the Lucas and having it become over-weight is easy to do. Owners must be diligent to prevent obesity, as over 55% of the dog breeds in the US must do too.

Temperament

The Lucas is friendly towards people and other dogs. It has an eager-to-please temperament and is more biddable and less stubborn than its parents - the Sealyham or the Norfolk. Although once a sporting dog, today it is a charming, delightful little companion dog.

Excitability
Almost all Lucas Terriers are calm and content indoors. They are a pleasure to live with. The exception to this rule is when they see a squirrel or a UPS truck outside 'their' window. In all likelihood, they will then fly over to that window and attempt to wake the dead with their barking. Often they are successful in their efforts. Other than this one "flaw" they are often silent indoors!

Intelligence
The Lucas Terrier is smart and easy to train. They are eager-to-please the people that they love. They respond best to positive based training and reinforcements and consistency. There is zero magic to a well-behaved Lucas. Just be positive and consistent. For all dogs training is a life long activity. It does not stop in puppy-hood. Keep at it!

Children
The Lucas Terrier naturally adores children. It gravitates towards them. By nature, they are a very sweet, loving and affectionate. However the breed does have it's limits and is not 'toy' for tiny children or abusive children to hurt or abuse. The Lucas will at first try to flee the abuse, BUT if there is no escape, it will defend itself.

Most children are lovely and well-behaved. But some can be cruel. So make sure you protect both your child and your dog. Also, all puppy teeth are sharp and pointy like little needles. Babies, toddlers and young children  should never be left unattended with a young puppy of any breed for everyone's protection.

Space Requirements
The Lucas Terrier is a great companion dog for town or country dwellers. It adapts well to its environment.

Exercise
We used to say that the Lucas was an easy keeper and a daily walk on a leash, or a romp in the yard, was all it took to keep your Lucas in shape. But then we started noticing all these fat and overweight Lucas Terriers in the USA.

The truth is that all dogs need some form of vigorous exercise to maintain their weight and not be bored.  "A" walk doesn't mean....no walk. And sitting in front of the TV all day watching Jane Fonda work out does not count as "exercise".

But exercise does not have to be painful and it does not have to be a chore -- it can be FUN!!!!!!!!! Get creative. You can dance with your Lucas, play ball, Frisbee, jump robe, go for a run or hike. The Lucas is little, but it was bred to go on hunts that lasted ALL DAY! So if you do 'walk" your dog -- make it a brisk walk and keep going for at least 30 minutes each day.....every day.

Modern Photos Of The Lucas Terriers Sent From Our Family Around The World